Teen Boy Electrocuted After Jumping Onto CTA Tracks

CHICAGO (STMW) — A teenage boy was electrocuted after jumping onto CTA tracks and making contact with the third rail Friday afternoon on the Near West Side, police said.

The 14-year-old boy was “goofing around” with friends when he attempted to retrieve something that had fallen onto the Blue Line tracks at the Medical District station at 430 S. Damen Avenue about 3:15 p.m., police said.

The boy attempted to jump onto the tracks, but slipped and made contact with the third rail and was electrocuted, police said. He was dead on the scene, police said.

The CTA turned off power between the Morgan and Kedzie stations on the Congress branch of the Blue Line, according to the CTA. Power was restored about 20 minutes later.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed a person died at the station, but was not releasing details about the victim pending family notification.